Melatonin attenuates TNF-α and IL-1β expression in synovial fibroblasts and diminishes cartilage degradation: Implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The hormone melatonin has many properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Melatonin has been demonstrated to be beneficial in several inflammatory autoimmune diseases, but its effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain controversial. We sought to determine how melatonin regulates inflammation in RA. We found that melatonin dose-dependently inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1 beta expression through the PI3K/AKT, ERK, and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. We also identified that melatonin inhibits TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production by upregulating miR-3150a-3p expression. Synovial tissue specimens from RA patients and culture of human rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocytes confirmed that the MT1 receptor is needed for the anti-inflammatory activities of melatonin. Importantly, melatonin also significantly reduced paw swelling, cartilage degradation, and bone erosion in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model. Our results indicate that melatonin ameliorates RA by inhibiting TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production through downregulation of the PI3K/AKT, ERK, NF-kappa B signaling pathways, as well as miR-3150a-3p overexpression. The role of melatonin as an adjuvant treatment in patients with RA deserves further clinical studies.